HCM City (VNA) – Nguyen ThanhPhong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and visiting Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and InvestmentRodrigo Malmierca Diaz discussed ways to promote investment ties between theVietnamese southern metropolis and Cuba, during their meeting on September 13.

Phong rejoiced at the fruitful development of the Vietnam-Cuba specialfriendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Vietnamese, including residents in HCM City, always treasure the deepsentiments and valuable support from Cuban people to Vietnam during the hardtime, the official said. 

He praised the initiative on organising the seminar on cooperation and businessopportunities in Cuba that was held in HCM City earlier the same day, sayingthe event has helped local enterprises access information about the businessenvironment in the Caribbean nation as well as its incentives for investors.

Phong used the occasion to call on the Cuban ministry to facilitate theinvestment of Vietnamese businesses, including those from HCM City.

The municipal leader expressed his hope for stronger cooperation between thetwo sides and pledged that the southern hub will make all-out efforts topromote the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

For his part, the Cuban minister informed his host of the outcomes of thefreshly-concluded 37th meeting of the Vietnam-CubaInter-Governmental Committee in Hanoi.

He said trade between Vietnam and Cuba expanded 25 percent over the past time,and Vietnam’s investment projects in Cuba have been materialized, with twoprojects on agriculture and food processing making progress.

Cuban doctors have also been sent to Vietnam under their agreement, theminister added.

However, the results have yet to match potential of the two countries, he said,expressing hope that the bilateral economic links will further develop on parwith their fruitful political relations.

Cuba commits to well implementing agreements signed with Vietnamese businesses,and wishes that more Cuban goods will be exported to the Southeast Asian nationto ensure the trade balance.

The minister lauded HCM City’s dynamic development and suggested municipalleaders facilitate Cuban businesses’ investment and technological transfer inthe city’s high-tech zone.

Cuba welcomes and will create the best possible conditions for enterprises fromVietnam and HCM City to attend the international trade fair to be held in thecountry in November, he stressed./.